7mm 175gr SMK for hunting.

[buckbrush]

I am curious to see if anyone has had experience with this bullet on deer and elk. I would like to shoot them out of a 7mm Rem mag that seems to have a relatively fast barrel so 3000 fps should be achievable.

Thanks for any insight.

 

[elkaholic]

I am curious to see if anyone has had experience with this bullet on deer and elk. I would like to shoot them out of a 7mm Rem mag that seems to have a relatively fast barrel so 3100 fps should be achievable.

Thanks for any insight.

You will no doubt get a difference of opinion on this subject ranging from poor to excellent. My personal opinion as a bullet maker and one who has tested smk's is both
Plus': excellent accuracy, high B.C., Minus': no expansion at lower velocities, inconsistent expansion at medium velocities, come unglued at higher velocities. (this will often cause devastating kills). A lot of people use them, and I'm sure a lot of game has been taken with them, but IMO, there are better "more consistent" hunting bullets....Rich

 

[jsimonh]

I am curious to see if anyone has had experience with this bullet on deer and elk. I would like to shoot them out of a 7mm Rem mag that seems to have a relatively fast barrel so 3100 fps should be achievable.

Thanks for any insight.

I have no idea about using the SMK's on game, but I'd sure like to know what powder/primer combo you are gonna use to get 3100fps??? I'm not sure a 7RM can get a 175 up that fast, can it?

 

[buckbrush]

Velocity was a typo, I meant 3000. I like to shoot a lot and the price of Bergers keeps going up. Looking for a bullet that will perform similarly but not break the bank.

Thanks.

 

[elkaholic]

Velocity was a typo, I meant 3000. I like to shoot a lot and the price of Bergers keeps going up. Looking for a bullet that will perform similarly but not break the bank.

Thanks.

If you are looking for long range, give the A-Max a try. They will open at lower velocities than Bergers. Other than that, there isn't a whole lot of options with a high B.C.; at least ones that "won't break the bank". The A-Max may be even more explosive than the Berger at higher velocities, so beware of that...Rich

 

[roninflag]

they are made for shooting at targets. use another for game.

 

[buckbrush]

they are made for shooting at targets. use another for game.

So are the 300 gr SMK's.

 

[300WSMMAD]

Roninflag, here we go again with match bullets vs game.

Generally speaking the bullets we use need to expand at slower velocities; this is why we use the MATCH BULLETS for LONG RANGE HUNTING, but knowing the limits of your gear and your own limits is paramount.
I do not use Senars on game because they do not expand at all but hit an animal in the right place in the head with a Senar and yeah you'll kill it.

Like most of the guys on here we get all set up, geared up and practice for shots that most hunters don't even consider, now the beauty of having a passion for super accurate rifles and long range accuracy is if and when a simple/close shot presents itself the thoughts of "oooh um yeah hell hope I hit it" is not an option for us, it is "ok where am I going to place this bullet? In the eye? Behind the ear or base of the neck, where ever.

Case in point a mate and I shot two red hinds with my 284 shooting 162 Amaxes,we were hoping for shots 300 yrds + this is why we were using this bullet, as it turned out the two we got were only at 120 yrds, big animals yes, close...yes, right bullet choice.. to be honest... NO. BUT, and A BIG BUT is at 120 yrds that 7mm 162 gr MATCH BULLET entered at the base of the neck on both animals, both animals died before their heads hit the ground, where I was aiming, THE SHOT WAS PLACED FOR THE MOST EFFECTIVE PLACE TO KILL THE ANIMAL QUICKLY.
My point is, I knew I did not have the bullet to go for a shoulder shot, it wouldn't have penetrated to the vitals, I was too close and the bullet would have more than likely blown up on the surface.
What I did know is that the bullet in the right place was going to kill those animals, and we had the kit and the confidence to put the bullet where it needed to be.

I have literally lost count of animals I've killed with match bullets.
Put that 175 gr SMK in the right place and it will kill.


300WSMMAD

 

[elkaholic]

So are the 300 gr SMK's.

And ALL of the Bergers for that matter. The bullets Berger now calls hunting bullets are the OLD target bullets.....Rich

 

[elkaholic]

Roninflag, here we go again with match bullets vs game.

Generally speaking the bullets we use need to expand at slower velocities; this is why we use the MATCH BULLETS for LONG RANGE HUNTING, but knowing the limits of your gear and your own limits is paramount.
I do not use Senars on game because they do not expand at all but hit an animal in the right place in the head with a Senar and yeah you'll kill it.

Like most of the guys on here we get all set up, geared up and practice for shots that most hunters don't even consider, now the beauty of having a passion for super accurate rifles and long range accuracy is if and when a simple/close shot presents itself the thoughts of "oooh um yeah hell hope I hit it" is not an option for us, it is "ok where am I going to place this bullet? In the eye? Behind the ear or base of the neck, where ever.

Case in point a mate and I shot two red hinds with my 284 shooting 162 Amaxes,we were hoping for shots 300 yrds + this is why we were using this bullet, as it turned out the two we got were only at 120 yrds, big animals yes, close...yes, right bullet choice.. to be honest... NO. BUT, and A BIG BUT is at 120 yrds that 7mm 162 gr MATCH BULLET entered at the base of the neck on both animals, both animals died before their heads hit the ground, where I was aiming, THE SHOT WAS PLACED FOR THE MOST EFFECTIVE PLACE TO KILL THE ANIMAL QUICKLY.
My point is, I knew I did not have the bullet to go for a shoulder shot, it wouldn't have penetrated to the vitals, I was too close and the bullet would have more than likely blown up on the surface.
What I did know is that the bullet in the right place was going to kill those animals, and we had the kit and the confidence to put the bullet where it needed to be.

I have literally lost count of animals I've killed with match bullets.
Put that 175 gr SMK in the right place and it will kill.


300WSMMAD

WELL STATED!.....Rich